San Jose Sharks left wing Raffi Torres (13) looks up after hitting Los Angeles Kings centre Jarret Stoll (28) to the ice in the second period during Game 1 of their NHL Western Conference semifinal playoff hockey game in Los Angele. (REUTERS)

SAN JOSE - The San Jose Sharks are standing by Raffi Torres.

The 31-year-old winger is suspended for the remainder of San Jose's second-round showdown with the Los Angeles Kings, the result of a high-hit on Kings centre Jarret Stoll in the series-opener at the Staples Center.

“The Sharks organization fully supports the NHL in its efforts to remove illegal and dangerous hits from the game, but we strongly disagree with the NHL's decision to suspend Raffi Torres,” Wilson said.

“Upon review of the incident, it is abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit. As noted by the NHL, Raffi's initial point of contact was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on an opponent who was playing the puck. He did not leave his feet or elevate, he kept his shoulder tucked and elbow down at his side, and he was gliding — not skating or charging.”

Wilson adds that Torres “absolutely did not target his opponent's head on the play” and argues Stoll — who is out with a suspected head injury — put himself in a vulnerable position by reaching to the ice to swat the puck with his glove before he was hit.

Torres skated Friday at the Sharks' practice facility in San Jose but did not speak to reporters.

The Kings currently lead the series 2-0 after back-to-back home-ice triumphs, with the action shifting to HP Pavilion for Saturday's Game 3 (6 p.m. PT, TSN).

Although Torres would have the option of launching an appeal if the suspension spans more than five games, he apparently won't pursue that option.

“We are proud of the work Raffi has put in to successfully adjust his game,” Wilson said. “Although it's unfortunate that Jarret was injured on the play, we feel this decision is grossly unfair to the Raffi, his teammates and our fans. However, Raffi does not want to be a distraction to his teammates and has decided not to appeal this suspension, and we respect that decision.”

Torres has been suspended three previous times, including a 25-game ban for a head-shot on Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa in the first round of the playoffs. That punishment was eventually reduced to 21 games.

Another factor in the length of Torres' latest suspension, according to NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan, was the fact Stoll was injured on the hit, but Sharks centre Logan Couture told reporters Friday that's not a good reason to punish his linemate.

“It shouldn't be like that. It was a clean hit. Unfortunately, the guy gets hurt,” Couture said. “If we suspended guys every time someone else got hurt, even if it's a clean hit, there would be a lot of suspensions in this league, and it's just not fair.”